"Knowing the excitement of proactivity, you settle for quietude.
Everyone will converge to you like water flowing towards the valley.
Thus, you are like the valley to the world.
Holding fast to the "absolute virtue" (Dao),
You try to return to the pristine innocence of an infant.
You know the benefit of the limelight, but choose to be anonymous.
You set this example for others to follow.
Holding fast to the "absolute virtue" unerringly,
You hope to return to the path of Dao.
Knowing the lure of fame and glory, you choose humility instead.
By your taking a low profile, everyone converges to you like water flowing towards the ravine.
Thus, you are the ravine to the world.
The "absolute virtue" is bountiful.
Finally, it returns to the naturalness of a raw timber.
The natural block once carved becomes useful utensils.
The sage utilises them as leaders.
The system set up by the sage should cause no harm."
-  Translated by Han Hiong Tan, Chapter 28 

"Know the male, but keep to the female and be thus a valley to the world.
When one is a valley to the world, the constant virtue will not desert one and one will return to the state of being an infant.
Know the white but keep to the black and be thus a model to the world.
If one is a model to the world, then the constant virtue will not decline and you will return to the limitless.
Know glory but keep to disgrace and so be a valley to the world.
If one is a valley to the world then constant virtue will be sufficient and you will return to the Uncarved Block.
When the Uncarved Block is cut asunder it then becomes utensils.
But should a Sage use such a man, that person would become a senior official.
Truly great fabrication does not involve cutting."
-  Translated by Patrick E. Moran, Chapter 28 

"Be aware of what's masculine in you,
But preserve what is feminine in you,
And serve as a conduit for the world.
When you serve as a conduit for the world
Your true virtue will never be gone.
And you'll return again to the state of a newborn child.

Be aware of what is bright in you,
But preserve what is dark in you,
And serve as a guide for the world.
When you serve a guide for the world
Your true virtue will never falter,
And you'll return again to the state of boundlessness.

Be aware of what's praiseworthy in you,
But preserve what is base in you,
And serve as a valley for the world.
When you serve as a valley for the world
Your true virtue will grow ample enough,
And you'll return again to the simplicity of uncut wood.

Divided, the wood becomes a rod.
Used by a sage, the rod becomes a ruler's staff.
A great ruler keeps things whole; he does not divide."
-  Translated by Agnieszka Solska, 2005, Chapter 28 

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living  Translated by Eva Wong

The Daodejing of Laozi   Translated by Philip Ivahoe 

Daoism: A Beginner's Guide   By James Miller

Early Daoist Scriptures  Translated by Stephen Bokencamp

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins

Practical Taoism  Translated by Thomas Cleary

Daoism and Chinese Culture  By Livia Kohn

"He who is aware of the Male
But keeps to the Female
Becomes the ravine of the world.
Being the ravine of the world,
He has the original character (teh) which is not cut up.
And returns again to the (innocence of the) babe.

He who is conscious of the white (bright)
But keeps to the black (dark)
Becomes the model for the world.
Being the model for the world,
He has the eternal power which never errs,
And returns again to the Primordial Nothingness.

He who is familiar with honor and glory
But keeps to obscurity
Becomes the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
He has an eternal power which always suffices,
And returns again to the natural integrity of uncarved wood.

Break up this uncarved wood
And it is shaped into vessel
In the hands of the Sage
They become the officials and magistrates.
Therefore the great ruler does not cut up."  
-  Translated by Lin Yutang, 1948, Chapter 28 

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 28 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

知其雄, 守其雌, 為天下谿.
為天下谿, 常德不離, 復歸於嬰兒.
知其白守其黑, 為天下式.
為天下式, 常德不忒, 復歸於無極. 
知其榮, 守其辱, 為天下谷. 
為天下谷, 常德乃足, 復歸於樸. 
樸散則為器.
聖人用之, 則為官長.
故大制不割.
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 28 

chih ch'i hsiung, shou ch'i tz'u, wei t'ien hsia ch'i.
wei t'ien hsia ch'i, ch'ang tê pu li, fu kuei yü ying erh. 
chih ch'i pai shou ch'i hei, wei t'ien hsia shih.
wei t'ien hsia shih, ch'ang tê pu t'ê, fu kuei yü wu chi.
chih ch'i jung, shou ch'i ju, wei t'ien hsia ku. 
wei t'ien hsia ku, ch'ang tê nai tsu, fu kuei yü p'u.
p'u san tsê wei ch'i.
shêng jên yung chih, tsê wei kuan ch'ang.
ku ta chih pu ko.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 28  

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 28 of the Tao Te Ching

zhi qi xiong, shou qi ci, wei tian xia xi.
wei tian xia xi, chang de bu li, fu gui yu ying er.
zhi qi bai shou qi hei, wei tian xia shi.
wei tian xia shi, chang de bu te, fu gui yu wu ji.
zhi qi rong, shou qi ru, wei tian xia gu.
wei tian xia gu, chang de nai zu, fu gui yu pu.
pu san ze wei qi.
sheng ren yong zhi, ze wei guan zhang.
gu da zhi bu ko.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 28  

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Laozi Daodejing: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. 

Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB

Chinese Character Dictionary

Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open

Dao De Jing English and Wade-Giles Concordance by Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English

Tao Te Ching: English translation, Word by Word Chinese and English, and Commentary, Center Tao by Carl Abbott

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  Chinese characters, Wade-Giles Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by Jonathan Star 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified

Convert from Pinyin to Wade Giles to Yale Romanizations of Words and Terms: A Translation Tool from Qi Journal

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations, and 16 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing by Mike Garofalo. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin and Wade Giles Romanization spellings, English; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version. 

Lao Zi's Dao De Jing: A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher. 

"He who, conscious of manly strength, guards a womanly weakness, becomes the channel of the whole Empire to which all minor streams converge.
Being thus the channel of the whole Empire, the cardinal virtues will never depart from him, and he will revert to a condition of childlike innocence.
He who, conscious of light, keeps in obscurity, will become a model for the whole Empire.
Being a model for the whole Empire, the cardinal virtues will never fail him, and he will revert to the Unconditioned.
He who, conscious of his glory, guards humility, will become the valley of the whole Empire.
Being the valley of the Empire, he will revert to his original simplicity.
When this simplicity is distributed, the man becomes a thing of utility to the State.
The Sage employs men of this simplicity, and advances them to high rank; therefore his administration is on a grand scale, and never comes to an end."
-  Translated by Frederick Balfour, 1884, Chapter 28 

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo  

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching  Translated by John C. Wu

Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching  Translated by Livia Kohn

Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way Translated by Moss Roberts

"The Nature of Opposites and Change ...
Be aware of your masculine nature;
But by keeping the feminine way,
You shall be to the world like a canyon,
Where the Virtue eternal abides,
And go back to become as a child.
Be aware of the white all around you;
But remembering the black that is there,
You shall be to the world like a tester,
Whom the Virtue eternal, unerring,
Redirects to the infinite past.
Be aware of your glory and honor;
But in never relinquishing shame,
You shall be to the world like a valley,
Where Virtue eternal, sufficient,
Sends you back to the Virginal Block.
When the Virginal Block is asunder,
And is made into several tools,
To the ends of the Wise Man directed,
They become then his chief officers:
For "The Master himself does not carve."
-  Translated by Raymond Blackney, 1955, Chapter 28

"Whilst developing creativity, 
also cultivate receptivity. 
Retain the mind like that of a child, 
which flows like running water. 
When considering any thing,
do not lose its opposite.
When thinking of the finite, 
do not forget infinity;
Act with honour, but retain humility. 
By acting according to the way of the Tao,
set others an example.
By retaining the integrity 
of the inner and external worlds,
true selfhood is maintained,
and the inner world made fertile."
-  Translated by Stan Rosenthal, 1984, Chapter 28  

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander Simkins. 

The Tao of Daily Life: The Mysteries of the Orient Revealed  By Derek Lin. 

Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony   By Ming-Dao Deng. 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

The Tao of Pooh   By Benjamin Hoff. 

Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life  By Ming-Dao Deng. 

Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook  Translated by Thomas Cleary. 

"Balance thy male strength with thy female weakness and thou shalt attract all things,
as the ocean absorbeth all rivers; for thou shalt formulate the excellence of the Child
eternal, simple, and perfect.

Knowing the light, remain in the Dark.
Manifest not thy Glory, but thine obscurity.
Clothed in this Child-excellence eternal, thou hast attained the Return of the First State. 
Knowing splendour of Fame, cling to Obloquy and Infamy;
then shalt thou remain as in the Valley to which flow all waters, the lodestone to fascinate all men.
Yea, they shall hail in thee this Excellence, eternal, simple and perfect, of the Child.

The raw material, wrought into form, produceth vessels. 
So the sage King formulateth his Wholeness in divers Offices;
and his Law is without violence or constraint."
-  Translated by Aleister Crowley, 1918, Chapter 28

"Know the masculine,
but keep to the feminine:
and become a watershed to the world.
If you embrace the world,
the Tao will never leave you
and you become as a little child.

Know the white,
yet keep to the black:
be a model for the world.
If you are a model for the world,
the Tao inside you will strengthen
and you will return whole to your eternal beginning.

Know the honorable,
but do not shun the disgraced:
embracing the world as it is.
If you embrace the world with compassion,
then your virtue will return you to the uncarved block.

The block of wood is carved into utensils
by carving void into the wood.
The Master uses the utensils, yet prefers to keep to the block
because of its limitless possibilities.
Great works do not involve discarding substance."
-  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 28 

"To know the masculine, to keep to the feminine, that is to be the brook of the world.
To be the brook of the world is to move constantly in the path of Virtue without swerving from it, and to return again to infancy.
To know the white, to keep to the black, that is to be the model of the world.
To be the model of the world is to move constantly in the path of Virtue without erring a single step, and to return again to infinite nothingness.
To know the glorious, to keep to the humble, that is to be the fountain of the world.
To be the fountain of the world is to live the abundant life of Virtue, and to return again to the uncarved block.
When the uncarved block stops being uncarved, it becomes useful vessels.
When the sage uses them, they become officials.
Hence, "A great tailor does not cut.""
-  Translated by Tien Cong Tran, Chapter 28 
 

"He who knows the male yet sustains the female will be a river valley for all under Heaven.
He who is a river valley for all under Heaven never separates himself from constant virtue and always reverts to the infant.
He who knows the white yet sustains the black will be a model for all under Heaven.
He who is a model for all under Heaven never deviates from constant virtue
And always reverts to the infinite.
He who knows glory yet sustains disgrace will be a valley for all under Heaven.
He who is a valley for all under Heaven is filled completely by constant virtue, for he always reverts to the uncarved block.
When the uncarved block fragments, it turns into implements.
As the sage would make use of them, he stands as chief of officials over them.
Thus the great carver never cuts."
-  Translated by Richard John Linn, Chapter 28 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic  By Hu Xuzehi

Tao Te Ching  Annotated translation by Victor Mair  

Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim

The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller  

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall

The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought   By Arthur Waley

"He who knows the male (active force), yet keeps to the female (the passive
force or receptive element), becomes like a ravine, receiving all sort of things.
Being the all-encompassing ravine he knows a power that he never calls upon in
vain. This is returning to the state of infancy.
He who knows the white, yet keeps and cleaves to the black becomes the standard
by which all things are tested, he becomes the model for the world.
As such he has all the time the eternal power that never errs; and he returns to
the limitless, a primordial nothingness.
He who knows glory, yet keeps to obscurity or even cleaves to ignominy,
turns into the valley that receives into it all kind of things. And being such a
valley he has all the time a power that suffices. So he returns again to some
pristine simplicity, returns to the state of simplicity: its the raw, uncarved
block.
Break up simple awareness and it becomes shaped. Next it becomes someone's tool
in the hands of the wise man. For when a block is sawed up it's made into
subordinates or implements.
When the wise man uses it, it becomes chief.
So the greatest carver does the least cutting, as they say. The great ruler
doesn't cut up."
-  Translated by T.J. Byrn, 1996, Chapter 28

"He who while recognizing his manhood
Yet holds also to his womanhood,
Becomes a channel for all the world.
Being a channel for all the world,
Everlasting virtue will never leave him:
He goes back to the state of childhood.
He who knows the light that shines within him,
Yet veils himself in darkness,
Becomes a standard for the world.
Being a standard for the world,
Everlasting virtue cleaves to him:
He returns to the Never-changing.
He who, knowing honour, yet dwells in humility
Becomes a valley for all the world.
Being a valley for all the world,
Everlasting virtue will abide in him:
He returns to Wholeness.
This Wholeness when broken may produce many useful instruments;
But used by the Sage, it becomes the minister of ministers.
And truly, the Greatest Ruler interferes the least."
-  Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 28 

"Know the male but keep to the female, and become the valley of the world.
As a valley, you have all your original powers, becoming like a baby.
Know the light but stay in the dark, and become a model for the world.
As a model, you have eternal power, returning to the beginning.
Know honor but stay humble, and become valley of the universe.
As valley of the universe, you are like uncarved wood.
When the wood is cut up, it becomes tools.
The sage uses the uncarved wood, and becomes a perfect tool.
Truly, the greatest carver does the least cutting."
-  Translated by Ned Ludd, Chapter 28  

"Return to Simplicity
Fan P'u

He, who knows the Male
And yet holds on to the Female,
Becomes the ravine of the world.
Being the ravine of the world,
He is always in union with Eternal Virtue,
And returns to the state of the new-born babe.
He, who knows the white (Yang)
And yet holds on to the black (Yin),
Becomes a model for the world.
Being a model for the world,
His Eternal Virtue becomes unerring,
And he returns to the Infinite.
He, who is aware of glory
And yet holds on to ignominy,
Becomes the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
His Eternal Virtue becomes sufficient,
And he returns to the state of virgin wood (simplicity).
The virgin wood, on being cut up, is used as implements.
Sages, who make use of the implements,
Become high officials and leaders.
The Supreme Ruler uses the wood without cutting it."
-  Translated by Henry Wei, 1982, Chapter 28 

Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching by Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum

The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg

Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic by Takuan Soho 

Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China by Christine Mollier  

"To know manly strength, to guard womanly gentleness,
Is to be the central channel of the kingdom.
To be the central channel of the kingdom, always manifesting life, never guilty, is to return to the innocence of childhood.
To know light, to guard the darkness,
Is to be the model of the kingdom.
To be the model of the kingdom, always manifesting life, never at fault, is to return to the bounds of the Inner Kingdom.
To know glory, to guard humility,
Is to be the valley of the kingdom.
To be the valley of the kingdom, always manifesting life becoming perfect, is to return to a condition like undressed wood.
Undressed wood, being made into many utensils,
The self-controlled man uses them,
Then he becomes Ruler for a long time,
Thus he achieves greatness without hurt to anyone."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 28

"Know masculinity,
Maintain femininity,
and be a ravine for all under heaven.
By being a ravine for all under heaven,
Eternal integrity will never desert you.
If eternal integrity never deserts you,
You will return to the state of infancy.
Know you are innocent,
Remain steadfast when insulted,
and be a valley for all under heaven.
By being a valley for all under heaven,
Eternal integrity will suffice.
If eternal integrity suffices,
You will return to the simplicity of the unhewn log.
Know whiteness,
Maintain blackness,
and be a model for all under heaven.
By being a model for all under heaven,
Eternal integrity will not err.
If eternal integrity does not err,
You will return to infinity.
When the unhewn log is sawn apart,
it is made into tools;
When the sage is put to use,
he becomes the chief of officials.
For great carving does no cutting."
-  Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 28

"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Seeing who we are

By knowing the masculine, and keeping in touch with the feminine, we are of use to the world.
By being of use in the world, we are true to our original nature,
and we return to the innocence of a child.

By seeing our clarity, and also acknowledging our obscurity,
we serve as a model in the world.
By serving as a model for the world, our integrity is unimpaired,
and we return to our limitless nature.

Even when receiving praise, we remember our faults,
and are receptive to the world.
By being receptive to the world, our true nature is perfected,
and we return to our natural state.

When wood is carved, it becomes a mere tool.
When wise people are called upon to serve,
they become the ones in charge.
Thus the best principle is not to carve things up."
-  Translated by Roderic and Amy Sorrell, 2003, Chapter 28  

Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries (Wen Tzu)   By Thomas Cleary

The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons   By Deng Ming-Dao

Awakening to the Tao   By Lui I-Ming (1780) and translated by Thomas Cleary

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries   Translation and commentary by Brook Ziporyn

"He who knows the masculine, and yet retains the feminine,

Will be the whole world's channel, being so,

Eternal virtue will with him remain forevermore,

And infant innocency to him go.

He who knows the spotless white, yet keeps the darkness of the night,

Will be the whole world's model, and the sage

Will hold eternal virtue in his hands forevermore,

And go home again to greet the golden age.

He who knows how glory shines, yet degradation never declines,

Will be the whole world' s valley, him alone

Will the spirit of eternal virtue fill forevermore,

And simplicity will claim him as her own.

This unwrought simplicity, when scattered comes to be

The universal vessels, and the sage

May use them as the rulers of the realm forevermore,

And every hurt and injury assuage."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 28 

"Be familiar with Masculinity but watch over Femininity - and become the Valley of the World.
Being the Valley of the World, invariant Te will not leave you.
Turn back to being an infant.
Be familiar with what is pure and white but watch over what is dark and black - and become the Pattern for the World.
Being the Pattern for the World, your invariant Te Will be constant.
Turn back to being limitless.
Be familiar with what is praiseworthy but watch over what is disgraceful - and become the Valley of the World.
Being the Valley of the World, your invariant Te will be sufficient.
Turn back to being an Uncarved Block.
When the Uncarved Block is cut up then it becomes a government tool.
When the Wise Person instead uses it then it becomes head of the government.
Yes: A great carver does no cutting, a great ruler makes no rules."
-  Translated by Michael LaFargue, 1992, Chapter 28  

"Wer seine Mannheit kennt und seine Weibheit wahrt, der ist die Schlucht der Welt.
Ist er die Schlucht des Welt, so verläßt ihn nicht das ewige Leben, und er wird wieder wie ein Kind.
Wer seine Reinheit kennt und seine Schwäche wahrt, ist Vorbild für die Welt.
Ist Vorbild er der Welt, so weicht von ihm nicht das ewige Leben, und er kehrt wieder zum Ungewordenen um.

Wer seine Ehre kennt und seine Schmach bewahrt, der ist das Tal der Welt.
Ist es das Tal der Welt, so hat er Genüge am ewigen Leben, und er kehrt zurück zur Einfalt.

Ist die Einfalt zerstreut, so gibt es brauchbare Menschen.
Übt der Berufene sie aus, so wird er der Herr der Beamten.
Darum: Großartige Gestaltung bedarf nicht des Beschneidens."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 28 

"Herzenseinfalt die weltordnende Kraft

Wer kraftvoll in seinem Mannestum wurzelt
und zugleich empfänglich ist wie ein Weib:
in dem vermag das strömende Leben zu gründen.

Ist er das Strombett der Welt,
so werden die in seinem Selbst wirkenden Kräfte
ihn nie verlassen:
er kehrt zu des Kindes Ursprünglichkeit zurück.

Wer vom Licht der Erkenntnis durchdrungen
dennoch im Dunklen bleibt, wird zur Leuchte der Welt.

Ist er Leuchte der Welt,
wird er von des Lichtes Mächten nie verlassen:
er kehrt zum Urgrund des Lebens zurück.

Wer um seine innere Größe weiß
und dennoch bescheiden bleibt,
durch den vermag die Welt zu werden.

Wird die Welt durch ihn,
wird der quellenden Kräfte in ihm kein Ende sein:
er hat seines Herzens Einfalt wieder gefunden.

Breitet sich die Herzenseinfalt unter den Menschen aus,
so vermögen diese das Unergründliche wieder zu fassen.

Der Weyse setzt solche Menschen
als Vorgesetzte und Verwalter ein.

Durch solche Verwaltung wird die Welt unmerklich geordnet.

Echte Macht wächst aus sich selbst."
-  Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter 28

"Know your masculine.
Maintain your feminine.
Act in Heaven below's (the sacred body) valley.
Act in Heaven below's valley.
The eternal action of the soul does not divide or separate.
Return and revert to your original state like that of a new born child.

Know your purity.
Observe your evil.
Become an example of Heaven below.
Become an example of Heaven below.
The eternal action of the soul does not falter.
Return and revert to the origin through the highest emptiness.

Know your beauty.
Observe your shame.
Act in Heaven below's empty spaces.
Act in Heaven below's empty spaces.
Eternal action of the soul is enough.
Return and restore the purity of uncarved wood or uncut jade.

Purity disperses and becomes the vessel.
The sage uses it and becomes an enduring leader.
Hence great rulers do no harm."
-  Translated by Alan Sheets and Barbara Tovey, 2002, Chapter 28  

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0

Tao Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey   Translated by Stephen Mitchell

"Know the male
But keep to the role of the female
And be a ravine to the empire.
If you are a ravine to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will not desert you
And you will again return to being a babe.

Know the white
But keep to the role of the sullied
And be a model to the empire.
If you are a model to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will not be wanting
And you will return to the infinite,

Know honour
But keep to the role of the disgraced
And be a valley to the empire.
If you are a valley to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will be sufficient
And you will return to being the uncarved block.

When the uncarved block shatters it becomes vessels.
The sage makes use of these and becomes the lord over the officials.

Hence the greatest cutting does not sever."
-  Translated by D. C. Lau, 1963, Chapter 28  

"Know the male,
yet keep to the female:
receive the world in your arms.
If you receive the world,
the Tao will never leave you
and you will be like a little child.

Know the white,
yet keep to the black:
be a pattern for the world.
If you are a pattern for the world,
the Tao will be strong inside you
and there will be nothing you can't do.

Know the personal,
yet keep to the impersonal:
accept the world as it is.
If you accept the world,
the Tao will be luminous inside you
and you will return to your primal self.

The world is formed from the void,
like utensils from a block of wood.
The Master knows the utensils,
yet keeps to the the block:
thus she can use all things."
-  Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 28 

"He who, being a man, remains a woman, will become an universal channel.
As an universal channel the eternal virtue will never forsake him. He will re-become a child.
He who, being in the light, remains in obscurity, will become an universal model.
As an universal model the eternal virtue will not pass him by. He will go back to the all-perfect.
He who, being glorious, continues in humility, will become an universal valley.
As an universal valley the eternal virtue will fill him. He will revert to the first essence.
This first essence is that which, being differentiated, gives rise to innumerable vessels of life.
A wise man, by embracing it, becomes the wisest of governors.
A liberal government is that which neither disregards not hurts anyone."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 28 

"Celui qui connaît sa force et garde la faiblesse est la vallée de l'empire c'est-à-dire le centre où accourt tout l'empire.
S'il est la vallée de l'empire, la vertu constante ne l'abandonnera pas; il reviendra à l'état d'enfant.
Celui qui connaît ses lumières et garde les ténèbres, est le modèle de l'empire.
S'il est le modèle de l'empire, la vertu constante ne faillira pas en lui, et il reviendra au comble de la pureté.
Celui qui connaît sa gloire et garde l'ignominie est aussi la vallée de l'empire.
S'il est la vallée de l'empire, sa vertu constante atteindra la perfection et il reviendra à la simplicité parfaite au Tao.
Quand la simplicité parfaite le Tao s'est répandue, elle a formé les êtres.
Lorsque le saint homme est élevé aux emplois, il devient le chef des magistrats.
Il gouverne grandement et ne blesse personne."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 28 

Spanish Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)
Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tsé Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Anton Teplyy

Tao Te Ching   Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versión española  

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons   Consejos de Estilo de Vida de Sabios

Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tzu-The Eternal Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Yuanxiang Xu y Yongjian Yin 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo    Maduración Duraznos: Estudios y Prácticas Taoístas por Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching - Wikisource

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por William Scott Wilson. 

Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Javier Cruz

Tao te king   Translated by John C. H. Wu, , versión española  

Daodejing   Español, Inglés, y Chino Versiones Lingüísticas de la Daodejing

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"Conoce la fuerza del hombre,
aunque conserva la suavidad de una mujer.
Sé la corriente del universo.
Siendo la corriente del universo,
La verdad y el no desvío se torna inocente
Como un niño pequeño.
Conoce el blanco, aunque conserva el negro.
Sé un ejemplo para el cosmos.
Siéndolo, cada verdad y no desvío
regresa al infinito.
Conoce el honor, conserva la humildad.
Sé el valle del universo.
Mientras seas como el valle del universo
la virtud eterna te colmará
y retornarás a la sencillez.
Al volver a la sencillez se regresa a lo primordial, al tronco en bruto,
y en manos del sabio, el tronco es convertido en utencillos.
Estos utencillos son funcionarios del sabio,
por eso el Sabio no destruye el tronco,
sino que lo convierte en herramientas útiles para el mundo."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 28

"El que conoce el principio masculino y se mantiene conforme a` lo femenino
es como el profundo cauce del mundo donde confluye todo bajo el cielo.
Siendo el eje del mundo no deja la constante virtud y vuelve a su primera juventud.
Quien conoce lo luminoso, pero elige lo oscuro, se vuelve el eje del mundo.
Siendo el eje del mundo su poder es estable y no mutable, y sin moverse vuelve al estado primordial.
Quien conoce su gloria y sigue siendo humilde es el valle del mundo.
Siendo el valle del mundo, donde la virtud eterna es inagotable, realiza su retorno a lo informal.
Lo informal al dispersarse produce todas las formas.
Por eso, el sabio siendo señor de los vasallos preside el imperio en su conjunto y no se ocupa de detalles."
-  Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Capítulo 28

"Conoce lo masculino, manténte en lo femenino y sé elArroyo del Mundo.
Ser el Arroyo del Mundo es caminar constantemente por el sendero dela Virtud sin desviarse del mismo, y retornar de nuevo a la infancia.
Conoce lo blanco, manténte en lo negro, y sé el Modelodel Mundo.
Ser el Modelo del Mundo es caminar constantemente por el sendero dela Virtud sin errar un solo paso, y retornar de nuevo a lo Infinito.
Conoce la gloria, manténte en la humildad, y sé la Fuentedel Mundo.
Ser la Fuente del Mundo es vivir la vida fértil de la Virtud,y retornar de nuevo a la Simplicidad Primordial.
Cuando la Simplicidad Primordial se divide, se convierte en recipientesútiles, que, en manos del Sabio, se transforman en funcionarios.
Por ello, "un gran sastre da pocos cortes"."
 -  Translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón from the English translation by John C. H. Wu, 1993, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo # 28

"Conocer al macho pero seguir a la hembra.
Ser el torrente del mundo.
Siendo el torrente del mundo
La naturaleza eterna no se separa,
Y una vez más se retorna al niño recién nacido.

Conocer lo blanco pero seguir lo negro.
Ser el modelo del mundo.
Siendo el modelo del mundo,
La naturaleza eterna no se modifica,
Y una vez más se retorna a la no-realidad.

Conocer la gloria pero seguir la deshonra.
Ser el valle del mundo.
Siendo el valle del mundo,
La naturaleza eterna se completa,
Y una vez más se retorna al bloque intallado.
El bloque intallado se dispersa
Para convertirse en utensilios que el sabio usa
Como convertidos en los oficiales del gobierno.

Por lo tanto las grandes instituciones no cercenan."
-  Translated by Álex Ferrara, 2003, Capítulo # 28

"Conociendo lo masculino, y convirtiendose en lo femenino,
Se llega a ser la vía a través de la cual se mueve el Mundo,
Estar unido a la virtud,
Y renacer de nuevo.

Conociendo la luz y convirtiendose en la oscuridad,
Uno se convierte en el Mundo,
Llegando a ser la virtud,
Y volviendo al Tao.

Conociendo el honor y siendo humilde,
Uno se convierte en el valle del Mundo,
Llenandose de la virtud,
Y siendo como un tronco no cortado.

Cuando el tronco es cortado se convierte en herramientas.
Usadas por el sabio, son poderosas;
Así pues, un buen carpintero no desperdicia madera."
-  Translated by Antonio Rivas Gonzálvez, 1998, Capítulo 28 

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0